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Old 07-25-2018, 04:04 PM   #1
dfryk
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Exhaust brake efficiency

We have a 2003 Dodge 2500 with the 5.7 Cummins pulling a 2015 3160RL and are considering adding an exhaust brake. I am familiar with how they work but have heard varying comments about how effective they are.

Comment please.
 
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Old 07-25-2018, 04:08 PM   #2
DQDick
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The OEM one on my 2011 Dodge works great. Seldom use the brake no matter how steep the grade. It seems to work even better with the cruise control on.
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Old 07-25-2018, 04:16 PM   #3
Montana Man
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My 14 Ram works great with that brake. If you are from Ripon you may be familiar with the Cuesta grade. I go down it loaded at 50 mph without touching the brakes.
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Old 07-25-2018, 04:21 PM   #4
dfryk
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What brand did you install?
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Old 07-25-2018, 04:25 PM   #5
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It came with the truck OEM. But, to buy one I would suggest Banks.
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Old 07-25-2018, 04:32 PM   #6
dfryk
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Banks is what we are considering. What I am looking for is someone who has done that mod and how it is working.
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Old 07-25-2018, 05:27 PM   #7
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I went with US Gear on my 4" exhaust. It fits in the exhaust pipe ahead of the muffler instead of at the turbine outlet like Banks, but it gets the job done. Shop around … Banks is good, but very proud $$$ of any of their products. There are other manufacturers of exhaust brakes.
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Old 07-25-2018, 06:08 PM   #8
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I assume you have a manual transmission on your 2003 5.9 cummins. If not you will need a smart lock to lock up the torque converter. I had a banks brake on my 2001 Dodge with a smart lock with an auto tyranny. My 2005 has a six speed manual & I have a PAC Brake on it for 14 years with no issues as long as you use it regularly & lube it once in awhile with PAC Brake Lube.
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Old 07-25-2018, 10:30 PM   #9
dfryk
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We have a 2014 auto transmission.
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Old 07-26-2018, 05:27 AM   #10
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I had a Pac Brake with Trans Command, installed on my old truck. I wanted the Banks but they did not make one for that truck. Big difference, between having it and not. Great for going down hills. Sometimes it slowed me up so much, I had to push on the gas. Nice for slowing down coming off the freeway. Saves on the brakes. With mine the only problem was, that if I was on the freeway and wanted to turn on the cruise control, I had to turn of the exhaust brake. If I did not, as soon as I lifted my foot off the gas, after setting the cruise control, the brake would come on, thinking I was going to brake.
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Old 07-26-2018, 06:54 AM   #11
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When I had my 2007 Ram 5.9 Cummins I added a PacBrake "PRXB" exhaust brake to it. It worked GREAT and FLAWLESSLY for 5 years and also provided onboard air to inflate my airbags. Would buy one again in a heartbeat.
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Old 07-26-2018, 09:08 AM   #12
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2017 F-350 Dually very happy with it. I put it in auto on the highway, and manual in the mountains.
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Old 07-28-2018, 11:52 PM   #13
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The Jacobs brake for the 5.9 is a little weaker than I would like it to be, but it still does cut down on brake pad wear by a bunch. I installed the Jacobs only because of the Dodge factory warranty reason. I have had the Jacobs vacuum pump fail twice on me so far in ten years, and both times is was on long trips. There is a little rubber orifice button that fails after a few years that should be a replacement piece with an simple fix, but they don't sell those, they make you buy a new vacuum pump. The little rubber button would only cost about $2, at most, and would be an easy fix.

Mopar/Dodge wants $890 for just the vacuum pump!

Cummins shops charge a whole lot less, I think $130ish the last time I needed one.

If I had it to do over again, I would go for the PacBrake.
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Old 08-01-2018, 01:33 PM   #14
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You should have an OEM exhaust brake, if used in Always on" is one of the best out there
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Old 08-01-2018, 01:54 PM   #15
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I had the banks brake on a 2001 dodge for years, and loved it. We have steep grades around here and it made a huge difference. One think to watch out for is some of the exhaust brakes out there will build up too much manifold pressure and blow out seals and gaskets. Banks does a ton of testing before putting stuff on the market and I trust their products. I’d highly recommend the banks brake.
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Old 08-01-2018, 03:17 PM   #16
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Before you do the exhaust brake, go to any Cummins engine shop with the serial number of your engine. Reason, to find the psi rating of the exhaust springs. Need to be 60psi at least. Some engines were equipted with 30psi springs and will need to be changed out before a exhaust brake is installed.

Been down that road.
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Old 08-01-2018, 04:42 PM   #17
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We have factory exhaust brake with full or automatic selection. The automatic selection will hold you to the speed you start down a mountain all the way day VERY effectively. No more run away trucks with burned out brakes!!!!


I would rank the exhaust brake as the #1 safety option everyone should have on their rig. Even above replacing china bomb factory tires. Most especially if you tow in the mountains!!!
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Old 08-01-2018, 04:58 PM   #18
Oldharley
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The dodge exhaust brake is hands down the best I've used. Click the trailer mode on the transmission and it would bring you to a stop almost without braking. I have a 2016 gmc and the exhaust brake is ok but nothing compared to the dodge. I wouldn't pull a trailer without one.
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Old 08-01-2018, 05:28 PM   #19
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Exhaust brakes work fine once you learn how to use them our 08 F-350 did not come with a Exhaust brake but it has "tow haul" which is a transmission brake that also works fine once you learn how to use it.If I were to purchase a truck now it would have the exhaust brake.
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Old 08-01-2018, 06:47 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richfaa View Post
Exhaust brakes work fine once you learn how to use them our 08 F-350 did not come with a Exhaust brake but it has "tow haul" which is a transmission brake that also works fine once you learn how to use it.If I were to purchase a truck now it would have the exhaust brake.
Richfaa,

The automatic exhaust brake on the Ram is a great feature. It takes the learning curve out of using the device. Don't know if the other brands have it but it makes using an exhaust brake worry free. When engaged it will automatically keep you at whatever speed you are running the last time you let off the accelerator pedal. If you start down a mountain at 50 it will hold you there without you having to do anything. To go slower you just brake enough to slow down to whatever speed you want to run. To go faster you just push the accelerator. It is a great system.

If you tow in the mountains I would consider it an essential piece of equipment! I have towed with gas engine without the feature and there were times on long downhills I was more than a little concerned about making it down. Granted the transmission can hold you back too but the exhaust brake does a much better job of it and worry free...... This option alone was worth the transition from gas to diesel!!
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